Motorola Moto X Play: Pros and Cons
Motorola announced the launch of the Moto X Play smartphone in 2015. The manufacturer is offering this smartphone with 5.5 inch IPS display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 MSM8939 SoC, and 2 GB of RAM. The Moto X Play comes with Android OS v5.1.1 (Lollipop) pre-installed. The IPS display of this phone has wide viewing angles. It also has accurate color reproduction and better contrast and black levels. This phone has only one rear-camera (21 MP, 5248 x 3936 px, autofocus) on its back for photos and videos. Is the cost justified by its features? I'll strive to answer that by the end of my review.
Table of Contents
- Motorola Moto X Play specifications
- Weight, dimensions, colors
- System, chipset, performance
- Display type, size, resolution
- Memory, storage
- Cameras, flash
- Connectivity, network, wireless
- Battery type, capacity, charger
- Features, sensors, specials
- Verdict, pros and cons
This article shares our personal experiences and thoughts about using the Motorola Moto X Play smartphone. We hope to offer helpful insights to others interested in this device. The specifications below are from the official manufacturer data, but we also consider user reviews. If you've seen any mistakes or things missing in these specifications, please let us know.
Motorola Moto X Play specifications
Brand | Motorola |
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Name | Moto X Play |
Model | XT1562 |
Release date | 2015 |
Weight, dimensions, colors
Weight | 5.96 oz |
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Dimensions | 5.83 x 2.95 x 0.43 inch |
Colors | black, white |
SIM type | Nano SIM |
The weight of the Motorola Moto X Play is still considered to be lightweight and portable. Smartphones use a Nano SIM as a subscriber identity module (SIM), which is a chip card.
System, chipset, performance
OS version | Android OS v5.1.1 (Lollipop) |
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SoC | Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 MSM8939 |
CPU | Octa-core, Quad-core 1.7 GHz Cortex-A53, Quad-core 1.0 GHz Cortex-A53 |
GPU | Adreno 405 |
The Motorola Moto X Play comes with Android OS v5.1.1 (Lollipop) out of the box. Google regularly releases new versions of Android. They have new features, improvements, and security updates. This octa-core CPU consists: Octa-core, Quad-core 1.7 GHz Cortex-A53, Quad-core 1.0 GHz Cortex-A53. Smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices use Adreno GPUs.
Display type, size, resolution
Display type | IPS |
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Screen size | 5.5 inch |
Resolution | 1080 x 1920 px |
Multitouch support | yes |
People know IPS for its wide viewing angles. It also has accurate color reproduction. The 5.5 inch display make this smartphone pocket-friendly. The display size is the diagonal distance from one corner of the screen to the opposite corner.
Memory, storage
RAM | 2 GB |
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Internal storage | 16 GB |
Memory card slot | microSD |
The smartphone has 2 GB of RAM. It can run many apps at once without much lag or slowness. The needed RAM amount for good performance depends on factors. These include the OS, the apps, and the services you use. If you use your smartphone for basic tasks like calling, texting, and browsing the web, 32GB may be sufficient for your needs. You can expand the internal storage of the Moto X Play (16 GB) by using a compatible microSD card.
Cameras, flash
Main camera | 21 MP, 5248 x 3936 px, autofocus |
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Flash | Dual LED |
Selfie camera | 5 MP |
You may have budget limits. Or, you may prioritize other features over a multi-camera system. If so, this single camera setup can be a good choice. The Moto X Play comes with a basic camera setup and lacks any advanced features.
Connectivity, network, wireless
GSM 2G bands | 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
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Network coverage | 2G / 3G / 4G |
Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n |
Bluetooth | v4.0, A2DP, LE |
GPS | A-GPS |
NFC | yes |
FM radio | yes |
USB | microUSB 2.0 |
Headphone | 3.5 mm jack |
Worldwide, people use 4G networks. They have become the standard for mobile networks in many countries. The Moto X Play supports the latest Wi-Fi standards. You can use Bluetooth to connect your Moto X Play smartphone to many Bluetooth devices. The Moto X Play has a GPS receiver. Many fitness and activity tracking apps rely on GPS. It is used to accurately measure and record outdoor activities. The Moto X Play has a built-in NFC chip, which allows it to support various NFC applications and services. The 3.5 mm headphone jack allows you to connect wired headphones or earphones to the device.
Battery type, capacity, charger
Type | Li-Ion 3630 mAh, non-removable |
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The Li-Ion 3630 mAh, non-removable battery gives the smartphone a good battery backup. The Li-ion is a low maintenance battery. It does not need periodic full discharge. The Moto X Play does not have a removable battery, it integrates the battery into the phone's design.
Features, sensors, specials
Sensors | accelerometer, light, proximity |
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Specials | Corning Gorilla Glass 3, Dual SIM |
Today, smartphones come with many sensors. They help make the user experience better. The Moto X Play smartphone has an accelerometer. The light sensor is a type of sensor in a smartphone. It lets the phone measure light intensity around the device. Dual SIM is great for businesses. They want to give staff a device with separate numbers and bills for personal and business use. Corning Gorilla Glass is a type of chemically strengthened super-glass.
Verdict, pros and cons
Every phone has its strengths and weaknesses, and this Motorola phone is no exception. As with any device, there are aspects that shine and others that fall short. By examining both sides, we can paint a complete picture of what this phone has to offer. Let's explore its standout features and areas for improvement. Remember, this is just my opinion, and yours might be different.
Pros
- microSD slot
- Dual SIM support
- Corning Gorilla Glass shield
Cons
- limited-size screen
- insufficient internal storage
- single camera setup
- no OIS function
- no 5G support
- no Type-C USB port
- low-capacity battery
- no digital compass
- no fingerprint reader
Please let us know if you find incorrect information or something isn't working. Also, tell us if you have a suggestion for improvement.